Fence-post.



W. J. METTLER.

mm ros'r.

APPLIUATIOH FILED SEPT. 20, 1910. 987,25 1 Patented Mar.21, 1911.

Attorneys UNITED s'rA'rns Pn rENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J'. METTLER, OF LEWISTOWN, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN UEHLIN, OF DE KALIB, ILLINOIS.

FENCE-POST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 20, 1910.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911. Serial No. 582,903.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. METTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lewistown, in the county of Fergus and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of fence post and the invention relates more particularly to a post which is designed to be set up upon the ground and need not have its base or lower end embedded in the ground.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a fence post embodying two sections adapted for the reception between them of the fence material whether the said fence material be in the nature of single line wires or wire netting.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a novel form of sectional base for the post and to secure the members of the post in the sections of the base in such a manner as to produce a highly substantial structure.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the general arrangement and construction of arts shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the.

device embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view in detail through a portion of the post. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of one of the members of the post. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the upper end of the other member of the post.

In the drawings, the post is illustrated as embodying two fence wire holding members one of which members is of channel forma tion, including a wall 10 and flanges 11 at the vertical edges of the wall 10, the member being substantially U-shape in horizontal section. This member, as will be readily understood, may be formed from a length of ordinary channel iron of proper dimensions and preferably is so formed in practice. The member has its lower portion bent rearwardly at an angle to its main portion as indicated by the numeral 12 and this angularly bent portion is embedded in one section of the base of the post, which section will be presently more specifically referred to. The other wire holding member of the post is formed, preferably, of angle iron which is T-shape in cross section and includes a body portion 13 having a longitudinally medially extending rib 14 upon one face. For a purpose which will presently be made clear, the body portion 13 of the second mentioned member of the post is of a width substantially the same as the distance between the free edges of the flanges 11 of the first mentioned member and the flange 14 of the second mentioned member is of a width equal to the depth of the channel of the first mentioned member so that when the two members are assembled in such position as to hold the fence wires between them, they will assume the position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. hen the members assume this position, the vertical edges of the portion 18 of the last mentioned member are slightly spaced from the adjacent edges of the flanges 11 of the first mentioned member, the distance between the two edges being suflicient for the passage of the fence material whether it be in the nature of single line wire or wire mesh. The last mentioned member comprising the portion 13 and flange 14 has its lower end portion bent at an angle as at 15 as in the case of the lower end of the member first described, and embedded in the other section of the base referred to. The wall 10 of the first described member is formed with a slot 15 clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, this slot being located transversely of the said wall near the upper end thereof. As heretofore stated, the last mentioned member is formed on one face of its body 13 with a longitudinally medially extending flange 14 and near the upper end of this body portion 13 this flange is discontinued and the re maining portion of the said body is bent rearwardly at right angles as at 16 and thence upwardly at right angles as at 17.

In assembling the members above described,'the upper angularly bent end of the body 13 of the last mentioned member is inserted, with its portion 17 first, through the slot 15 in the portion 10 of the first described member until the portion 16 engages through this slot whereupon the members will be hingedly connected as will be readily understood. It will be readily understood at this point that while the engagement of the upper end of the second described memher through the slot 16 in the wall 10 of structed as above described and as illusthe first described member serves as a means to hingedly connect the upper ends of the two members, this connection is of such character that the two members may be bodily separated when being shipped or being transported from place to place. The flange 14 of the last described member is formed in its free edge with a number of notches which are indicated by the numeral 18 and these notches are designed to receive the fence wires when the said wires are inserted into place between these two members, the members at the time of such insertion, being in substantially the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawmgs.

From the foregoing it will be understood that whether the fence material be in the nature of single line wires or in the form of wire mesh, it is inserted in place between these two members when the last described member is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and the two members are then closed so as to clamp the wires in place.

Each section of the base indicated by the numeral 19 has flat faces 20, a convex upper side 21, and a concave under side 22, and, when the members are closed, the opposing faces of the base sections indicated by the numeral 23, will be in contact and will hold between them the lower portion of the wire mesh fabric, should the fence consist of such material, or single line wires if these are employed. Vith the base sect-ions conl trated in the drawings, the posts, when the members shown in Figs. 5 and 6 are closed as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, may be disposed upon the ground surface and will be held upright owing to the concavity 22 in the under side of the base and the fact that the sections of the base are comparatively large and heavy. As stated, it is not necessary that the base sections be embedded in the ground and in fact it is not intended that they shall be as they support the wire holding members in upright position in such a man-. ner that should an animal confined by the fence attempt to escape, it could, at best,

merely slightly tilt the post and the post would readily right itself.

hat is claimed is In a fence post, a channel member formed with a slot near its upper end, a member provided at its upper end with a tongue bent to angular form and removably insorted in the slot in the channel member whereby to hingedly connect the members, the said members being arranged for the reception bet-ween them of fence wire, and

a base section at the lower end of each member. V

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. METTLER. \Vitnesses:

FAITH METTLER, HOWARD DE VALL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

